7 Days JR Pass Worth to Get?

Hihi, I will be going to Osaka and Tokyo on 20th Oct till 31st Oct 19 and will like to get the JR pass. After checking with hyperdia, it seems that a 7 days pass will be worthwhile but I am not too sure so would like to seek for your advise. Here is my itinerary as follows:

Comments

With all your travel, a 7-day pass would pay off handsomely. A few things - the pass would not get you all the way to the Fuji 5 Lakes - only to Otsuki, where you'll have to pay for the Fujiden train the rest of the way.Also for Nikko, you could use a Nikko pass.https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

Regarding seeing Hiroshima and Mijiyama, you can do it as a day trip with an early morning start, but for Hiroshima City, don't cheat yourself like so many do by just seeing the Peace Park and leaving. There are many more good sights like the Shukkeien Garden and the Mitakidera Temple.https://goo.gl/fAz4ax

Aside from USJ you give no info on your plans in Kansai. Have you seen Kyoto and Nara before? It would be tragic to skip them. They are both the crown jewels of traditional Japan.https://goo.gl/LfvWnLhttps://goo.gl/knQtMg

You can check on train info on Hyperdia - you can see regular fares, routes, and schedules.Under "More Options", with a full JR pass, be sure to uncheck the Nozomi box since you can't ride that train using the pass. http://www.hyperdia.com

Hi Tenjin, thanks so much for your inputs. I read that I can take the Fuji Excursion train from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko and pay an additional JPY1,140. The journey seems to be quite long as compared if I took a bus from Tokyo station.

As for Hiroshima, I wanted to visit Peace Memorial Park, the museum and Hiroshima Castle and lastly Okonomimura for lunch. Thanks for suggesting the Shukkeien Garden and the Mitakidera Temple. Had not thought of going there actually as I was afraid that I would not have time to visit Miyajima. Will it be too rushed if I visit these 2 places with the rest?

I have been to Kyoto and Nara last year in Sept and have stayed a couple of days in Kyoto and that's why I decided to skip these places.

Lastly, will it be cold in Osaka and Tokyo during mid to end Oct as I do not want to bring too thick clothing over there. Was thinking of just bringing a light jacket and some cardigans along. Will that be sufficient? I read that Nikko will be really cold in Oct and if so, I have to bring some warmer clothing instead.

Hi,First, for Hiroshima, it is very busy, which is why I suggested you get an early morning start (Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima takes about 90 minutes). Only you know your actual travel pace, but hopefully you don't linger at any place too long. One thing you could do to make it a better trip is skip Hiroshima Castle, which is not that great anyway (it was destroyed during the war), and on your Day 2 go to see Himeji Castle instead - it is the finest original surviving castle in the country (not a reconstructed fake). https://goo.gl/65ZtRiYou could spend a whole day there, or half a day with the rest of your time seeing Kobe.

If you are seeing Tokyo, there is far less need to see Osaka during the daytime anyway. Osaka comes alive at night though, and there are some very good places you can see then.http://goo.gl/XE5R94

The places in Hiroshima generally don't take that long. The Peace Park is pretty much a bunch of statues and memorials (of course what they represent aren't insignificant) and the museum itself (opens at 8:30 AM) is mostly photos and charred clothes and objects. It is very sobering and worth seeing, but shouldn't take too long. It's about 25 minutes by train to Miyajimaguchi, and about another 15 minutes to get to the ferry port and get to the island.The Big 3 places for Miyajima are the Itsukushima Shrine, Daishoin Temple, and Mt Misen. The shrine you can walk through in about 20 minutes - and unfortunately the iconic big torii gate in the water is under renovations, so there is even less reason to stick around. The temple is very nice though and you can easily spend 45-60 minutes walking through. For Misen you can take a ropeway up most of the way if you wish. If the weather stinks that day, you can just skip Misen entirely. Otherwise, sunset at that time will be about 6:08 PM and the last ropeway back is about 5 PM if you want to take that, or you can just hike downhill to return. From about 7 PM it will be getting nighttime and dark (actually seeing the shrine area after all the day trippers have left is very tranquil and relaxing). If I'm reading your plans right, you're planning to go to Miyajima on Oct 22, so low tide will be at 9:44 AM and high tide is at 5:03 PM, and high tide is when the shrine looks its best. The shrine is open until 5:30 PM.October the weather is generally good and the best of the year - lots of clear blue skies and the miserable humidity of summer is gone. Afternoons are generally warm and quite comfortable. You don't need any heavy jackets. What you mention should be just fine. Nikko will be generally several degrees cooler than Tokyo, Hiroshima etc.